Our Living Waters for the World Mission Team from Pioneer Memorial Presbyterian Church led worship this morning. It was such a gift for me to sit and worship and not worry about leading the congregation. This became quite evident when I totally muffed up the reception of new members – just another attempt on my part to let folks know that one doesn’t have to be perfect to lead worship!

Back to bucket lists and gratitude… Keven, one of our missionaries, shared about how going on a mission trip has always been on his bucket list. In the process of checking that off his list, he realized that instead of having a bucket list, he needed to have a gratitude list. Indeed! Keven recognized during his week in Honduras that the people of Arenales lived with a sense of gratitude rather than “what more?”

I think that is the difference of living with a sense of abundance and scarcity. Are you always looking for what is next? Wanting more? Wishing you had (fill in the blank)? That sort of thinking is scarcity thinking. That is bucket lists gone bad!

Or, are you content with what you do have? Knowing that somehow “all shall be well.” This isn’t just wishful thinking – this is how God calls us to live. Remember the story of the Israelites and the manna? They were told they’d have enough for the day. Instead, they decided that if they collected more than they needed they would have security for tomorrow. Didn’t quite work out the way they planned.

Sometimes the search for security is a dangerous thing. It makes us fearful.

“Maybe if I buy this gun, I’ll be safe”

“If I could get this next job, everything will be alright”

“If we can have this amount in our reserves we won’t have to worry”

And this is where my friend Keven comes in. I think he has it right. Bucket lists are great! I have plenty of things in my own bucket that I would like to accomplish and/or experience. But if my bucket list keeps me from being grateful for what I already have then I have lost site of the bigger picture. I think we need to start those gratitude lists – that is biblical too! Offering gratitude for what we do have might just remind us of God’s faithfulness.

Blurgh. Ever had one of those weeks? Where you wish you could swallow the words that came spewing forth – the words that tear someone down rather than build them up and make you look really stupid? Yeah, it has been one of those weeks for me. Oh, I’m not beating myself up (anymore!) but I’ve been thinking about that in light of this song by Seth Glier.

Do the next right thing. The truth for me – and for you – is that we will always be messing up. I hate that! But there is always next time – that is not an excuse to do whatever we want but it is the freedom to move forward. For me, that is the beauty of an act that takes place in our worship each week at Pioneer. We recognize that the very reality of being human is that we don’t always do the next right thingbut we are given a new beginning, a fresh start, a chance to try again. If I could only be as generous with myself as the Holy One is. Doing the next right thing is a way of seeing and being – not simply floating along for whatever comes next. It takes time – and awareness – and confidence.

This morning at Pioneer we celebrated Epiphany and marked the day by choosing a star word – a simple cardstock star with a word written on it. I loved tying this practice into our celebration of communion – sustenance for the journey – word and Word. We did star words two years ago and it has been fun to hear the stories – and see the stars. The intent behind this practice is to provide focus for the journey – a way of practicing awareness of God’s movement in one’s life. There were some giggles when folks shared their words after worship (not a requirement). One group suggested we start a support group for those with difficult words. Hmmmmmmm. More about star words later…

I closed my reflections with this prayer from Jan Richardson and a number of you asked for it. I hope you’ll take some time to peruse Jan’s beautiful work in word and image.

For Those Who Have Far to TravelAn Epiphany Blessing

If you could see
the journey whole
you might never
undertake it;
might never dare
the first step
that propels you
from the place
you have known
toward the place
you know not.

Call it
one of the mercies
of the road:
that we see it
only by stages
as it opens
before us,
as it comes into
our keeping
step by
single step.

There is nothing
for it
but to go
and by our going
take the vows
the pilgrim takes:

to be faithful to
the next step;
to rely on more
than the map;
to heed the signposts
of intuition and dream;
to follow the star
that only you
will recognize;

to keep an open eye
for the wonders that
attend the path;
to press on
beyond distractions
beyond fatigue
beyond what would
tempt you
from the way.

There are vows
that only you
will know;
the secret promises
for your particular path
and the new ones
you will need to make
when the road
is revealed
by turns
you could not
have foreseen.

Keep them, break them,
make them again:
each promise becomes
part of the path;
each choice creates
the road
that will take you
to the place
where at last
you will kneel

to offer the gift
most needed—
the gift that only you
can give—
before turning to go
home by
another way.

It has been a slow start back to work after the craziness of Advent and the first eleven days of the Christmas season. Today I found myself a tad overwhelmed by an overflowing desk, some tedious demands, and, oh yeah, another Sunday approaching! My mind floated from idea to idea as I deleted emails, updated the to-do list, and reviewed the 2012 preliminary budget report (it was a good year Pioneer!). And, like many of my colleagues, I found myself wondering (and worrying?) about the 2013 budget that will be finalized this month.

Then I drove home. My wonderings continued…

On ScienceFriday, they were discussing how Kickstarter (a crowd sourced funding platform) brought about a number of scientific projects this past year.

Lately I’ve been joking (maybe?) that faith communities should start their own version of Kickstarter for their ministry projects. But then, who would fund the toilet paper?

Seriously.

I don’t think I’m all that off track. We do our own version of Kickstarter already in ways small and large. Yesterday I read a thread on Facebook about great fundraising ideas for youth groups as they get ready for next Summer’s trips.

When I arrived home I caught up on some reading and learned that “America’s wealthiest gave less in 2012.”

No surprise with that news either but it makes me wonder. I’ve long pushed the notion that our giving should not be dependent on what we get out of it…that stewardship is a response to what God has given to us – “all that we are and all that we have belongs to God.” I’ve preached this message more times than I can count but our life together is changing – as much as I don’t want to admit it. I think we do need to think creatively about our giving – and our asking. More than anything, I want folks to give and not think that I am nagging them! Until then, here is what I’m pondering…

What if…

folks understood that it is really hard to budget for an organization when you don’t know what is going to come in! Too often the folks that say we should budget on faith are the same folks that give according to how well their own needs are met (and are happy to tell me about it!)